Well testing tool



Se t. 30, 1958 I w. K. ANSITE WELL TESTING TOOL '2 Shasta-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1956 A m m m ld/LL/AM K. 4N5! ITTOPIVIY Sept. 30-, 1958 w.K-.ANs|TE WELL TESTING T001.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1956 INVENTOR (Wu/AM K. 4N5; 2%;

Fla-3 w United States Patent and WELL TESTHI G TOOL William K. Ansite, Glendale, Calif 'assignor to Johnston Testers, Inc., Houston, Tex a corporation of Texas Application October 10, 1956, Serial No. 615,160

11' Claims. (Cl. 166-226) .This invention relates'to well testingtools and, more particularly, to well testing toolsshavr'ng'acombination of" functions.

In making a test'of a formation where the connate fluid .is. under-high pressure, it -is desirable to progressively open the tool to the upward flowof fluid therethrough-so .as.to prevent damage to the tool which might be caused by high velocity fluid jetting uncontrolled through the tool. Also, after the testis made and .the samplecollected, it is frequently desirable to .be able to make -a shut-in .test,.that is, to take the pressure of the fluid in the formation with the bore above the formation completely .closedott by the tool. Furthermore, frequently itis desirable to reversely circulate drilling mud or otherliquid .down the well around .the exterior of the string-of pipe supporting the tool and then .into the tool and upwardly through the pipe for the purpose of bringing connate. fluid to thesurface, and also for variousother purposes.

It' is a-main object of .the .presentinvention to provide .a. simple and inexpensive .tool .by which the three. operations above described may be readily carried out.

.'It' is a more particular object of the presentinvention to provide a tool by which theabove-named operations may be carried out .in .the sequence above enumerated, and by merely rotating .the. spring :of pipe supporting. the tool to e'ifect sucha sequence of operations.

According to thepresent invention, a well tool..is pro.- vided having a housing for connection with a packer. anda tubular mandrel rotatable within thehousing for connection with a pipe string extending from .the surface. .A valve sleeve slidable non-rotatively within .thebore of the housing is moved relative to test ports in the. mandrel 'by'rotation. of the .mandrel soas tocontrolIflowof fluid through the test ports. Inan initialjposition, aportion of the sleeve is sealed across the test ports to blockaffiow of fluid. In a second position, the sleeve .aliords communication between the interiorof the mandrel and the'well below the packer through restricted choke orifices. .Upon .further'movement of the sleeve, fully open passages in 'thesleeve aflord communication in .lieu of the choke oriffices. Further movement of the sleeve closes the test ports, and yet further movement may be provided for reopening thetest'ports and also opening circulating ports in the housing to permit reverse circulation.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with-taccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational cross-sectional view of apre- 'ierred embodiment of the invention showing the parts in relation to providean initial shut-in pressure test;

Fig. 2 is a partial elevational cross-sectional view of .the parts shown in Fig. 1, and ate larger scale,"showing the; parts in relation to provide a restricted flow through the testing tool;

Fig. '3 is a view similar to Fig. 2.showing the relation of parts to provide a full flow through the testing tool; and

Patented Sept. 30, 1958 tF-ig.--4 isaa viewsimilarto Fig. 2 showing the relation of parts to provide a final shut-in'pressure test.

.-A testing tool 1, -intaccordance withthe present inven- 1.tion, cor n prises atopsub 2 adapted '-to be connectedto the lower end'of a pipe or drill string 3-and supported .by a thrust bearing-Afar rotation relative to atubular housing 5-which includes tubular'housing sections-6, 7 and 8. The lower tubular housing section Sis adapted. to be connected to thextoprendof-suitable'testing equipment 9. This testing equipment will conventionally include, in descending .order, an equalizing or by-pa-ss-valve,a packer, a-perforated pipe for admitting fluid, and'pressuremeasuring means to record-pressures such as the initial and final shutvin well pressures, during a test.

.Dependentlyconnected .to* the top --sub 2 by screw threads .11 is -a. tubular test mandrel 12 comprising anup- @per, .jackmandrel section--13 and a lower mandrel section .14 .lconnectedutogether :byscrew threads 15. :Mounted on .the .bottom-end' of the .lower mandrelsection. l4' -by collar 16 is a downwardly opening check valve 17. Ball .18 .of .thexcheck valve.17 is.held against valve seat 19 by .springlj2tl =to.. prevent.upward flow-of fluid rthroughthe 'lowerend of mandrel.12. The lower mandrel sections-is, however, provided with laterally opening test-ports 21 intermediate. its length.

The jackmandrel Jsection..13 has .a portion 221'of-en- .larged diameter, the upperendof which-abuts a .downwardly .tacingshoulder .23 .formed in .the uppershousing .sectiont'tl. External jackthreads 24 :are formed on-th'e lowerfhalf .ofljack mandrel section 13. .As will'beqeappreciated, with the mandre1...12. screwed :intothe .topsub 2 so. that the enlarged mandrel portion .22 is in'engage- .ment with the shoulder 23, .no longitudinal movement of the mandrel 112 with respectto the housing .5 may take ,place. However, because of .=thethrust bearing 4, the top sub 2. and mandrel 112 may be rotatedrelativelysto housing sections'6, '7 and 8 by the pipe. string.3. I

A valve 'sleeve'25 comprising an upperannular sleeve portion 26 and a lower annularsleeveportion 271ismounted in .the housing 5lfor longitudinal, non-rotative .move- "ment therein. The upper sleeve portion 26 is provided with internal .jack threads. 28 adapted to engage \the external jack threads .24 of the jack mandrel section 13. .A spline 29 fits into registering longitudinal grooves .formed in the upper. housing section .6 and upper sleeve portion '26: to'prevent relative rotational movement therebetween, while allowing :the "upper sleeve portion 26 and the lower sleeve portion 27, connected by screw threads 30, to move longitudinally with respect to thehousing'S. 1

.-As is now apparent, if the housinglS islheld against ,rotation,as bysetting of the packer, and the'dr ill string '3 is "rotated,the rotation will .be transmitted to the jack mandrel section '13. Therotatio'n of the jack 'threads24 of the-jack mandrel engaging the jack threads ".28-.of."the sleeve 25 causes the sleeveto move longitudinally with respect to the housing 5, the usual'right-handrota'tion producing 'a corresponding upward .travel. of the sleeve.

Mounted in the lower sleeve portion'27 and carried "by' it are a-se'ries of annular 'flow controlling members tarra nged -to be positioned with respect to the test' ports 21. A first annular member 31 of cylindrical configurartion'iis snugly fitted in the lower sleeve portion "27"with ritslnpper end engaging the bottom'endof the upper 'sleevespo'rtion 26. The inner cylindrical surface of"mem'- -ber .31, lS.lIl sliding contact withythe outer surface 'of the .Jowerirnandrel section .14. Unrestricted longitudinal pass ages 32 arespaced zcircumferentially around the member 31.and.extend lengthwise through ,themember.

Asecond annularmember. 33 Qfdisc-Iike configuration is snugly fitted .in the sleeve .27 for slidingalong. the lower mandrelsectionltland is spaced below thetmember 31 by afitted annularspacer 34. The. disc 33 -.is provided with circumferentially spaced, longitudinal metering passages or choke orifices 35, whereby the fluid flow through passages 35 may be restricted. 'Carried by the disc 33 is an O-ring 36 for sealing with the inner surface of the lower sleeve portion 27. I i

A third annular member 37 of cylindrical configuration is snugly fitted in the sleeve 27 and spaced below the disc 33 by a fitted cylindrical spacer 38. Themember 37 is provided with unrestricted longitudinal passages 39 therethrough, the passages 39 having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the metering passages 35 of disc 33, to allow an unrestricted flow of fluid passing upwardly to the test ports 21. The member 37 also slidingly engages the outer surface of the lower mandrel section 14.

A lock ring 41 holds the annular members and spacers in assembled relation within the lower sleeve portion 27. Thus, there is provided :a longitudinal extending flow course comprising, in succession, unrestricted passages 39, a lower chamber 42 defined by the bore of spacer 38, restricted passages 35, an upper chamber 43 defined by the bore of spacer 34, and unrestricted passages 32.

In order that the circumferentially spaced, laterally opening and downwardly slanting test ports 21 formed in the lower mandrel section 14 may provide selective'fluid communication between the inside of the lower mandrel of-the jack mandrel 13 to prevent the passage of fluid between the jack mandrel and the upper housing section 6 A shear pin 47 is threaded into the upper end of housing section 6 and extends into the jack mandrel 13, and serves to prevent accidental rotation between the mandrel 12 and the housing 5.

A series of lateral plugs 48 are circumferentia'lly spaced around the housing section 7, the plugs 48 having passages 49 formed therein opposite and slightly below the test ports 21 in the mandrel to provide fluid communication between the inside and the outside of the housing 5. Such fluid communication is prevented when the sleeve portion 27 seals oil the passages 49 by reason of the O-rings 51 and 52 carried externally at either end of the sleeve portion 27 and engaging the bore of the housing section 7.

The bottommost and innermost corner of the upper sleeve member 26 is notched at 54, and an annular space 55 is provided between the mandrel section 14 and the sleeve portion 26 to allow fluid communication from the passages 32 of member 31 to the mating jack screws 24 and 28.

In an exemplary operation, the top sub 2 of the testing tool is turned with respect to the housing 5 to put sleeve 25 in its lowermost position. The testing tool is then assembled as in Fig. 1 with its upper end connected to pipe string 3 and its lower end to the testing equipment 9, and is lowered into a well bore. The testing equipment is sealed against the well bore, as by setting the packer, thus preventing the housing 5 from rotating relative to the well bore. Fluid entering the housing 5 from the testing equipment 9 is prevented from entering mandrel 12 because the upper valve sleeve member 31 is sealed across the test ports 21 to close them. The fluid may pass through the longitudinal passages 39, 35, 32, notch 54 and annular space 55 to the jack threads 24 and 28. These threads are not fluid tight, and thus the well fluid may pass through the engaging screw threads but not beyond packing 46. With well fluid on 4 both sides of the jack threads, unbalanced loading of the threads by hydrostatic pressure is avoided.

As the well fluid is prevented from passing up through mandrel 12, the initial shut-in pressure of the well may be taken by the subsurface pressure recording means (not shown).

Torque is now applied to the well string, usually in a right-hand or clockwise sense, and the shear pin 47 is sheared to allow relative rotational movement between the mandrel 12 and the housing 5. The well string is turned, say, through seven revolutions, thus causing the sleeve 25 to move upwardly until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 2. As the upper chamber 43 is now opposite the test ports 21, the well fluid may now flow upwardly. from the lower end of housing 5 through the large diameter passages 39 of member 37, through the metering passages 35 of disc 33 and through the test ports 21 into the mandrel 12. In this position a metered flow test may be had and production from the formations commenced without shock. The O-ring 36 and the rubber packing 44 prevent the passage of fluid around the outer and inner peripheries of disc 33, respectively, despite the pressure drop across the disc.

Turning the well string through, say, seven more revolutions brings the sleeve 25 upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the lower chamber 42 is opposite the test ports and full flow of the well fluid is allowed through the passages 39 of the lower member 37 and the test ports 21 into mandrel 12. It may be noted that the lower housing section 8 afiords a full annular flow passage about the check valve 17.

Turning the well string through, say, seven more revolutions brings the sleeve 25 upwardly to the position as shown in Fig. 4. In this position the test ports 21 are again sealed, this time by valve sleeve member 37, and the final shut-in pressure may be measured.

If it is desired to provide reverse circulation for the well, the well string is turned through, say, seven more revolutions to raise O-ring 52 carried by the lower sleeve portion 27 above the circulating ports 49 and the valve sleeve member 37 above the test ports 21, thus allowing free fluid communication between the interior of mandrel 12 and the exterior of the housing 5.

As may be appreciated, valve sleeve members 31 and 37, spacers 34 and 38, and disc 33 can be arranged easily in different orders or the lengths of these elements can be changed, or more discs may be added to provide difierent sequences of operation without a major alteration of the tool. Another advantage of the invention is that the initial fluid passing longitudinally through the tool is metered before its direction is changed, thus helping to prolong the life of the test ports 21.

The length of travel of the sleeve 25 is limited by the original distance allowed between the lower edge of the enlarged mandrel portion 22 and the top of the upper sleeve portion 26. When the top of the sleeve portion 26 contacts the mandrel portion 22, the sleeve portion 26 then acts as a stop nut and prevents further rotation of the mandrel 12 because of the spline 29. The testing equipment below the tool 1 may then be rotated by the pipe string for ready withdrawal of the equipment from the borehole.

If desired, any of the various packings may alternatively be mounted on the member with which a seal is effected. The O-ring 52 may be so disposed in relation to the circulating ports 49 as to open these ports for equalization of pressure above and below the packer I 'while the test ports are still closed.

Accordingly, while an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled'in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim: a

l. A well testing tool for connection in a pipe string,

.said lower valve member closing said .test port.

2. A well testing tool for connection in a pipe string, comprising a tubular housing, a tubular mandrel rotatably mounted within said housing and having a lateral test port intermediate its length, a sleeve non-rotatably received within said housing and threadedly-coupled with said mandrel for relative longitudinal movement with respect to said mandrel when said mandrel is rotated,=and upper and lower longitudinally spaced valve members carried by said sleeve for selectively closing said testport,

means to seal said valve members with respect to said mandrel, said lower valve member having-alongitudinal passage therethroughfor admitting fluid to said mandrel when said valve members are spaced above and below said test port.

3. A well testing tool for connection in-a pipe string,

comprising a tubular housing, a tubular mandrel rotatably mounted within said housing and having a lateral test port intermediate its length, and a sleeve non-rotatably received within said housingandthreadedly coupled with said mandrel for relative movement longitudinally along said mandrel when said mandrel is rotated, said sleeve having longitudinally-spaced upper and lowervalve portions for successively'closing said test port and having a passage therethrough communicating with a space intermediate said valve portions, said mandrel having its lower end closed against upward flow of fluid and spaced inwardly of said housing for defining an annular chamber through which fluid may flow longitudinally into said passage.

4. A well testing tool for connection in a pipe string, comprising a tubular housing having a circulating port therethrough, a tubular mandrel rotatably mounted Within said housing and having a lateral test port intermediate its length, a sleeve non-rotatably received within said housing and threadedly coupled with said mandrel for longitudinal movement relative to said mandrel and housing between upper and lower limiting positions when said mandrel is rotated, means to seal said sleeve across said circulating port except in said upper limiting position, and longitudinally spaced upper and lower valve means carried by said sleeve for selectively closing said test port in accordance with the position of said sleeve, said lower valve means having a longitudinal passage therethrough for admitting fluid through said test port in an intermediate position of said sleeve, said test port being open in said upper limiting position of said sleeve to place the interior of said mandrel in communication with the exterior of said housing through said circulating port.

5. A well testing tool for connection in a pipe string, comprising a tubular housing, a tubular mandrel rotatably mounted in said housing and having a lateral test port intermediate its length, a sleeve non-rotatably mounted within said housing and in threaded connection with said mandrel for longitudinal movement therealong when said mandrel is rotated, spaced upper and lower annular valve members carried within said sleeve and defining a fluid communication space for communication with said test port, said lower valve member having a longitudinal passage therethrough communicating with the said space intermediate said valve members, and an annular flow restricting member carried within said sleeve intermediate said upper and lower valve members for dividing said space into upper and lower chambers in restricted fluid communication, whereby flow .of fluid upwardly through said passage and into said'mandr'el'is restricted when said upper chamber'is opposite said te's't port and is relatively unrestricted when said lower chamher is opposite said test port.

6. A well testing tool comprising .a'tubular housing, a tubular mandrel mounted within said housing having a lateral test port, a sleeve mounted between said housing and said mandrel and adapted to move longitudinally therebetween, said sleeve having a portion thereof in sealing engagementwithsaid mandrel,'a;first annular mernber carried by said sleeve in another portion thereof and in sealing engagement withsaid mandrel, saidfirs't annular member having a'restrictedlongitudinalpassagetherethrough and a second annularmember carriedbysaid sleeve, said second member'being spaced 'from s'aid'first annular member andin sealing engagement with said mandrel, said second annular member having alongitudinal passage'therethroug'h of greater cross-sectional area than said restricted, passage.

7. A well testingtoolcomprisinga tubular housing, a tubular mandrel'tmounted within tsa'idlhousing, a. lateral test port in saidmandrel, aQsleeve mounted between, said housing and said mandreltfor movement longitudinally thereof, means for moving. said sleeve along said mandrel, a first annular member carriedtby said sleeve and adapted to engage saidmandrel and to sealsaid. test port whenin register therewith, a second annular member carried by said sleeveandspaced longitudinally of said first annular member, said second annular member being arranged sealingly. engaging said mandrel below ,said (test port and .having arestricted passageztherethroug h, a thirdflannular member -carried by said sleeve .and :spaced .below :said second annular member, and .said .thirdannularmember adaptedto engage said mandreland to-scal said test .port

' is in its lowermost position relative to said mandrel, a

second annular member mounted in said sleeve and spaced below said first annular member for sealing engagement with said mandrel, a restricted longitudinal passage through said second annular member, and a third annular member mounted on said sleeve and spaced below said second annular member for sealing engagement with said mandrel, said third annular member being adapted to seal said test port when in register therewith and to uncover said test port when said sleeve is in its upper extreme position, said third annular member having a longitudinal passage therethrough of greater cross-sectional area than said restricted passage, said circulating port being uncovered by said sleeve when said sleeve is in its upper extreme position to establish fluid communication between the interior of said mandrel and the ex terior of said housing.

9. A well tool comprising a tubular housing, a tubular mandrel rotatably mounted within said housing and having a lateral test port intermediate its length and external threads spaced above said test port, a sleeve mounted between said housing and said mandrel and having internal threads on its upper end engaged with said external threads, means for preventing rotational movement of said sleeve with respect to said housing while permitting relative longitudinal movement therebetween whereby rotational movement of said mandrel with respect to said housing causes said sleeve to move longitudinally with respect to said housing and said mandrel, seal means car- 7 ried by said mandrel above and below said test port, a first annular member mounted in said sleeve for engaging said seal means to close said test port when in register therewith, a second annular member mounted in said sleeve and spaced below said first annular member for engaging said seal means when spaced below said test port, said second annular member having a restricted passage therethrough, and a third annular member mounted in said sleeve and spaced below said second annular member for engaging said seal means to close said test port when in register therewith, said third annular member being provided with a passage therethrough of greater diameter than said restricted passage of said second annular member.

10. A well tool comprising a tubular housing, a tubular mandrel rotatably mounted within said housing in sealed relation therewith and having a test port intermediiate its length, a sleeve mounted between said housing and said mandrel and in threaded connection with said mandrel, means for preventing rotational movement of said sleeve with respect to said housing while permitting relative longitudinal movement therebetween whereby rotational movement of said mandrel with respect to said housing causes said sleeve to move longitudinally with respect to said mandrel, seal means carried above and below said test port by said mandrel, a first annular member mounted in said sleeve for engaging said seal means to close said gaging said seal means to close said test port when in register therewith, said third annular member being provided with a longitudinal passage therethrough of greater diameter than said restricted passage of said second annular member to supply fluid through said chambers and passages externally along the length of said mandrel for controlled admission to said test port.

11. A well testing tool comprising a tubular housing, a tubular mandrel rotatably mounted within said housing and having a test port intermediate its length, a sleeve non-rotatably received within said housing for movement longitudinally between two extreme positions, means for moving said sleeve longitudinally upon rotation of said mandrel, an upper annular valve member slidably received in said sleeve for closing said test port when said sleeve is in its lowermost position relative to said housing and said mandrel, an annular flow restricting member slidably received in said sleeve in sealing engagement therewith and having a restricted longitudinal passage, a lower annular valve member slidably received in said sleeve for closing said test port when in register therewith, said lower valve member having formed therethrough a longitudinal passage of greater cross-sectional area than said restricted passage, spacer means slidably received in said sleeve intermediate said flow restricting member and said valve members to define upper and lower chambers for successive registry with said test port, and means for retaining said members and said spacer means in said sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

